Mchenry Districts Hope Voters Won`t Cut Budget To The Bone

March 09, 1992|By V. Dion Haynes.

Officials of three cash-strapped school districts in McHenry County are counting on the passage of referendum questions next week that would accommodate growth and prevent sweeping cuts in their programs.

Faced with soaring enrollments and state aid cuts, Richmond School District 13 and McHenry School District 15 are seeking tax hikes in the March 17 primary to cover operational costs while Cary School District 26 wants to borrow money to build an elementary school.

``The referendum is simply to close the gap, to cover our operational deficit,`` said Bill Landis, assistant superintendent in District 15, where voters will consider a request for a 45-cent increase in the property tax rate.

``It`s not to add technology, not to add staff, but just to keep what we have-a status quo type thing.``

District 13 is hoping voters will be more receptive to a tax hike this month than they were last November.

At that time, they resoundingly defeated a proposal that would have raised the tax rate by 56 cents, to $2.18 per $100 of assessed valuation.

And now, in light of the loss of $200,000 in state aid, the district is renewing its request just to operate at its current level. The increase would raise $1 million for the district and would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 an additional $70.62 a year.

Another defeat, officials say, would trigger major program reductions.

``The school board has already approved $146,500 worth of cuts for next year if the referendum does not pass,`` said Supt. Audrey Brown. ``And there would be more cuts made the following year.``

Facing the chopping block, Brown said, are sports, extracurricular activities, buses for field trips, staff development workshops and new textbooks.

District 15 officials are projecting a deficit of $2 million for next school year, half of which they blame on state aid cuts.

At the same time, they are grappling with a student enrollment that has risen by 900 in five years and is expected to grow by 100 this fall.

They are asking for the 45-cent increase, which would bring the property tax rate to $1.83 per $100 of assessed valuation, to cover the deficit and to avert layoffs.

``All the frills in the district are gone; we lost art, guidance counselors, industrial arts and home economics 12 years ago,`` said Landis.

Voters have rejected four referendum proposals in the last 20 years to raise the tax rate, which has remained steady since 1967.

Cary School District 26 officials are asking voters for permission to sell $5 million in bonds so they can build an elementary school.

In the last five years, enrollment rose by 950 students, 270 of whom registered this year. The district is expecting 300 more next school year.

``We have looked at other alternatives, such as year-round schooling and leasing other buildings that could be used for schools,`` said Supt. Timothy Kelly. ``We feel the best option for the community is to build the new school now while interest rates are low and construction rates are favorable.``

If voters reject it, Kelly said, ``We`ll cut our hot lunch program and convert our multipurpose cafeteria into temporary classrooms. But the following year we`d be in trouble because we`d have no more rooms to convert into classroom space.``